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| United States Patent |
6,057,667
|
|
Mills
|
May 2, 2000
|
Booster with switch actuated cable decoupler
Abstract
A booster apparatus is provided for applying electrical power to a device
in which a power source having positive and negative terminals is disposed
in a housing, with electrical cables extending from respective positive
and negative or grounded terminals to exterior of the housing, with an
electrical switch interposed in one of said electrical cables interior of
the housing manually actuable from outside of the housing, with an
electrical circuit operatively coupled to one of the cables and the
electrical switch, whereby the electrical circuit effects automatic
closing of an electrical switch upon imposition of a predetermined minimum
voltage to the cables, and effects opening of the electrical switch upon
the second cable having a voltage less than the predetermined minimum
voltage, and with a voltage comparator and its associated circuitry to
indicate a level of charge for the power source. Hence, the portion of the
cables extending exteriorly of the housing are not live unless and until
connected with a device having a voltage greater than a predetermined
voltage, such as provided by a depleted automobile battery.
| Inventors:
|
Mills; Charles J (Chicago, IL)
|
| Assignee:
|
Schumacher Electric Corporation (Mount Prospect, IL)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
049578 |
| Filed:
|
March 27, 1998 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
320/105; 320/109 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H02J 007/00 |
| Field of Search: |
320/105,107
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2659042 | Nov., 1953 | Anderson et al. | 320/105.
|
| 3281816 | Oct., 1966 | Raymond | 320/105.
|
| 3456181 | Jul., 1969 | Godshalk | 320/105.
|
| 4667141 | May., 1987 | Steele | 320/105.
|
| 4740740 | Apr., 1988 | Taranto et al. | 320/105.
|
| 4769586 | Sep., 1988 | Kazmierowicz | 320/105.
|
| 4902955 | Feb., 1990 | Manis et al. | 320/105.
|
Primary Examiner: Wong; Peter S.
Assistant Examiner: Tibbits; Pia
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Zachar; Richard A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a booster apparatus for applying electrical power to a device wherein
said apparatus includes a power source having positive and negative
terminals, a housing encasing said power source, and a pair of booster
cables for linking said terminals with said device, the improvement
comprising an electrical switch manually actuatable from the exterior of
said housing for selectively coupling and decoupling one of said cables,
from the positive of said terminals, at a location interior of said
housing, and a voltage comparator operatively coupled with said power
source for indicating a characteristic of a potential of the power source.
2. In a booster apparatus in accordance with claim 1, the apparatus further
comprising a voltage sensor for decoupling one of said cables from the
positive of said terminals in the absence of a voltage greater than a
predetermined voltage applied to said one of said cables, and coupling
said one of said cables to the positive of said terminals upon the
application of a voltage greater than said predetermined voltage to said
one of said cables.
3. A booster apparatus for applying electrical power to a device, the
apparatus comprising:
a power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
an electrical switch having a first contact and a second contact, and
operable between a closed position in which the first and second contacts
are electrically coupled, and an open position in which the first and
second contacts are electrically decoupled;
one of the power source terminals electrically connected to the first
switch contact;
a cable electrically connected to said second contact and extending to an
exterior of a housing; and
an electrical circuit operatively coupled to said cable and said electrical
switch, said electrical circuit effecting automatic closing of said
electrical switch upon imposition of a predetermined minimum voltage to
said cable, and effecting opening of said electrical switch upon said
cable having a voltage less than said predetermined minimum voltage,
an electrical connection from one of the power source terminals to said
electrical circuit having a second electrical switch interposed in said
electrical connection between said power source terminal and said
electrical circuit for selectively coupling and decoupling said electrical
circuit from said power source terminal, said power source and said first
and second electrical switches being disposed in a housing, said second
electrical switch being manually actuatable from the exterior of the
housing, and a voltage comparator circuitry electrically coupled with said
power source for indicating a level of charge of the power source.
4. A booster apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said electrical
switch comprises a solenoid.
5. A booster apparatus having a housing and a power source with positive
and negative terminals disposed within the housing, and with a positive
cable extending from said positive terminal to exterior of the housing,
and a negative cable extending from one of said negative terminal and
ground to exterior of the housing, the booster apparatus comprising:
a voltage sensor operatively connected with said positive cable for sensing
the voltage applied to said positive cable and generating a switching
signal when said voltage applied to the positive cable exceeds a
predetermined voltage;
a switch interposed in said positive cable at a location interior of said
housing, said switch being operable between an open position in which
current does not flow across the switch and a closed position in which
current flows across the switch, the switch being operatively connected
with said applied voltage sensor for receiving said switching signal, with
the switch closing in response to receipt of said switching signal to
allow current to flow across the switch to the portion of the positive
cable exterior of the housing, and the switch being in its open position
in the absence of said switching signal to prevent a flow of current to
the portion of the positive cable exterior of the housing, and a voltage
comparator circuitry electrically coupled with said power source for
indicating a level of charge of the power source.
6. A booster apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said
predetermined voltage is approximately 2 volts.
7. A booster apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said switch
comprises a solenoid.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to booster apparatus, and more particularly
pertains to booster apparatus used to recharge a depleted automobile
battery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Internal combustion automobile engines typically require a separate
electric motor, or starter, to externally rotate the engine crankshaft at
a sufficiently rapid rate to start the engine. The starter is electrically
powered by an automobile battery. It is important that the automobile
battery have sufficient power to rotate the starter fast enough that it
effects starting of the engine. However, occasionally an automobile
battery may inadvertently become partially depleted or discharged, such as
due to the lights or radio of the automobile being left on without the car
running. Typical automobile batteries have a voltage potential of
approximately 12V. While even depleted automobile batteries retain a
potential of greater than 10V, this depleted battery charge may be
insufficient to drive the starter with enough electrical power to crank
the engine, resulting in the inability to start the engine. Accordingly,
it is known to electrically connect a separate booster battery to the
automobile battery to provide the requisite 12V potential for starting the
engine. The booster battery is connected in parallel to the depleted
automobile battery through electrical cables in order to recharge or
bypass the depleted automobile battery. This is commonly referred to as
"jump starting" the depleted automobile battery.
Typically, a pair of electrical cables commonly referred to as "jumper
cables" are employed which have clamps adjacent either end of each cable.
The clamps at either end of one cable are connected to respective negative
terminals of the automobile battery and booster battery, and the clamps at
either end of the other cable are connected to respective positive
terminals of the automobile battery and booster battery. This requires
that four separate electrical connections be made, and if any one or more
of the connections is made poorly or improperly, it may result in short
circuiting and/or failure to start the engine. Additionally, after one end
of a cable is clamped to its respective battery terminal, the cable,
including the clamp at the other end of the cable, is live, and hence
great care must be exercised in handling of the live cable and clamp, and
in preventing contact between the positive and negative cables.
Some manufacturers have combined the booster battery and cables in one
unit, with one end of each of a pair of cables permanently connected to
respective positive and negative terminals of the booster battery. A
particular problem associated with this structure is that cables which are
permanently connected to the battery are always live. Hence, care must be
exercised at all times in the handling of the clamps. Clamp shielding
structures, such as holsters molded on the housing in which the clamps are
receivable to shield the clamps from one another, and from contact with
persons during transporting of the booster battery, have been employed.
However, this does not provide any protection to users with regard to
exposure of the clamps having live voltage during usage of the booster
battery, i.e. during the time the clamps are removed from their holsters
and connected to the automobile battery, as well as during the time the
clamps are subsequently removed from the automobile battery and returned
to their holsters. Accordingly, there remains a need for a booster battery
which overcomes the aforementioned problems associated with handling live
clamps during jump starting of an automobile engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a booster battery or apparatus is
provided which overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art
booster batteries. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
in a booster apparatus which includes a battery having positive and
negative terminals, a housing encasing the battery, and a pair of booster
cables for lining the terminals with the device, the booster apparatus is
provided with the improvement of an electrical switch manually actuatable
from the exterior of the housing for selectively coupling and decoupling
one of the cables, from the positive of the terminals, at a location
interior of the housing.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a booster
apparatus is provided for applying electrical power to a device, in which
the apparatus comprises a battery having a positive terminal and a
negative terminal, an electrical switch having a first contact and a
second contact, which is operable between a closed position in which the
first and second contacts are electrically coupled, and an open position
in which the first and second contacts are decoupled, with a first cable
extending between one of the battery terminals and the first switch
contact, and with a second cable connected to the second switch contact,
and an electrical circuit operatively coupled to the second cable and the
electrical switch, with the electrical circuit effecting automatic closing
of the electrical switch upon imposition of a predetermined minimum
voltage to the second cable, and effecting opening of the electrical
switch upon the second cable having a voltage less than the predetermined
minimum voltage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing, wherein like elements are referenced alike:
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a booster battery or booster apparatus embodying
various features of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
A booster battery or booster apparatus embodying various features of the
present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and referred to generally by
reference numeral 20. The booster apparatus 20 has a housing 22, which is
preferably formed of a non-conductive material. A battery or other
electrical power source 24 is disposed in the housing 22 and has positive
and negative (or ground) terminals 26 and 28, respectively, which are also
disposed within the housing. A first positive wire or length of cable 30
extends from the positive terminal 26 to a first contact 32 of an
electrical switch 34. A second positive wire or length of cable 36 extends
from a second contact 38 of the electrical switch 34, and extends
externally of the housing 22. The electrical switch 34 is operable between
an open position in which the first and second contacts 32 and 38 are out
of electrical contact with one another so that no current flows across the
switch 34, and a closed position in which the first and second contacts 32
and 38 are in electrical contact with one another, so that current flows
across the switch 34.
A clamping jaw 40 may be provided at the free end of the cable 36 for
securely electrically coupling the cable 36 with a positive terminal of a
depleted battery, such as a depleted automobile battery for jump starting
an automobile engine.
The negative or ground terminal 28 is grounded to ground voltage, and a
ground wire or length of cable 42 extends from the ground or the negative
terminal and extends externally of the housing 22. A clamping jaw 44 may
be provided at the free end of the cable 42 for securely electrically
coupling the cable 42 with a negative terminal of a deleted battery or to
ground, such as the negative terminal of a depleted automobile battery or
the engine block of an automobile engine.
In accordance with a particularly advantageous feature of the present
invention, the booster battery or booster apparatus 20 has an applied
voltage sensor 48 operatively connected with the second positive cable 36,
which applied voltage sensor 48 senses the voltage applied to the second
positive cable 36, and generates a switching signal when the voltage
applied to the second positive cable 36 exceeds a predetermined voltage.
The electrical switch 34 is operatively connected with the applied voltage
sensor 48 such that it receives the switching signals from the applied
voltage sensor 48. The electrical switch 34 automatically closes upon its
receipt of the switching signal, whereupon the second positive cable 36
and associated clamping jaw 40 have the voltage of the positive terminal
26 of the power source, and hence become live.
That is, prior to the clamps 40 and 44 being placed into electrical contact
with a voltage source of greater voltage than some predetermined voltage,
i.e. until a voltage of greater than the predetermine voltage is applied
to the positive clamp 40, the electrical switch 34 remains open and no
electrical power is present at the clamps 40 and 44. However, upon the
voltage applied to the positive clamp 40 exceeding the predetermined
voltage, e.g. when the clamps 40 and 44 are connected to the positive and
ground or negative of a depleted automobile battery having a remaining
potential greater than the predetermined voltage, the electrical switch 34
is automatically closed, and the power of the power source 24 is then
present at the clamp 40. This provides a significant improvement in the
ease of handling of the cables and clamps of the booster apparatus as
compared to prior art boosters in which the cables and clamps remain live
at all times.
It is preferred that the predetermined minimum voltage be low enough that a
typical depleted automobile battery, such as one which has been used in an
auto whose lights have ben left on overnight, will still have a voltage
greater than the predetermined minimum voltage. It has been found that
employing circuitry suitable for providing a predetermined minimum voltage
of approximately 2 volts has provided good results.
The power source 24 is preferably a rechargeable power source. The booster
apparatus 20 preferably has an AC/DC adaptor 57 operatively connected with
the power source, for receiving a 120 volt AC power supply and converting
it to a 12 volt DC, 0.5 amp output which is fed to the rechargeable power
source 24 to recharge the power source 24. A "charging" light emitting
diode 59 is operatively coupled with the adaptor 57 to illuminate the
diode 59 when the adaptor 57 is energized from an external power source
and is recharging the power source 24, to provide a positive indication to
the user that the power source is, indeed, being recharged.
The booster apparatus also preferably has a cigarette lighter-type
receptacle 61 operatively connected to the power source 24 through a
circuit breaker 70 whereby 12 volt DC power is supplied to the receptacle
61 for driving external devices.
The booster apparatus or booster battery 20 also preferably includes
voltage comparator circuitry operatively coupled with the power source 24
and with means for indicating the potential of the power source 24, such
as light emitting diodes. In the illustrated embodiment, the voltage
comparator circuitry is only actuated upon and subsequent to closing of
the switch 50, as discussed further below. A first voltage comparator
circuitry, indicated generally by reference numeral 52, which is
operatively coupled with light emitting diode 54, lights the diode 54 when
the potential of the power source 24 is at or greater than a predetermined
"ready" voltage, which ready voltage is sufficient to jump start a typical
automobile engine. A second voltage comparator circuitry, indicated
generally by reference numeral 56, which is operatively coupled with light
emitting diode 58, lights the diode 58 when the potential of the power
source 24 is at or greater than a predetermined "partial" charge voltage,
which partial charge voltage is intermediate of the "charging" voltage and
a "recharge" voltage described below, such as approximately 75% of full
charge. The partial charge light emitting diode 58 gives the user an
indication of the potential of the power source 24 to provide some
indication of the amount of charging of the power source 24 necessary to
bring it to the charging voltage. Finally, a third voltage comparator
circuitry, indicated generally by reference numeral 60, which is
operatively coupled with the light emitting diode 62, lights the diode 62
when the potential of the power source 24 is below a predetermined
"recharge" voltage which is so low as to require recharging of the power
source 24, such as less than 50% of full charge.
The booster apparatus 20 of the preferred and illustrated embodiment will
now be described more specifically with reference to the following table.
______________________________________
Reference
Numeral Component
Description
______________________________________
70 circuit breaker
CD2A12OD
72 diode
1N4001
74 diode
1N4001
76 transistor
2SD882P or 2SD882Y
78 resistor
1K ohms 1/4 watt
80 resistor
10K ohms 1/4 watt
82 capacitor
4.7 .mu.F
84 diode
1N4001
86 resistor
390 ohms 1/2 watt
88 resistor
1K ohms 1/4 watt
90 capacitor
0.1 .mu.F
92 resistor
100K ohms 1/4 watt
94 resistor
200K ohms 1/4 watt
96 resistor
150K ohms 1/4 watt
98 resistor
3.24K ohms 1/4 watt 1%
100 resistor
10K ohms 1/4 watt
102 resistor
2.7K ohms 1/4 watt
104 resistor
2.7K ohms 1/4 watt
106 IC2 Regulator
TL431CLP
108 resistor
20K ohms 1/4 watt
110 transistor
9014
112 resistor
3.3K ohms 1/4 watt
114 resistor
2K ohms 1/4 watt
116 resistor
500 ohms 1/4 watt
118 resistor
0 ohms 1/4 watt
120 resistor
2.7K ohms 1/4 watt
122 resistor
2K ohms 1/4 watt
124 resistor
2K ohms 1/4 watt
126 resistor
2K ohms 1/4 watt
128 resistor
100K ohms 1/4 watt
130 diode 1N5400
______________________________________
While the invention is described by way of example, with reference to
certain elements being specifically connected with positive and negative
terminals, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that
the invention may be carried out or embodied in a device in which the
positive and negative terminals and/or connections are reversed, i.e. in a
positively grounded system. Furthermore, although the invention is set
forth herein by way of illustrated and preferred embodiments, the
invention is not limited in this regard, and many modifications and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention
covers all such structures falling within the scope and spirit of the
invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.
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